Bank of America VP dies after Times Square stabbing attack

A Bank of America vice president has died after being stabbed in a random, unprovoked daylight attack in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.

As reported by Vanguard, the victim, Erin Piacenti, was attacked alongside a 68-year-old man at West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue at about 4:30pm on Monday, before succumbing to her injuries. Her identity was first reported by Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers who responded to the scene first attempted to subdue the female suspect with a Taser, but opened fire and killed her after she continued advancing with knives.

The male victim was hospitalised and is in stable condition.

Bank of America confirmed Piacenti’s death, calling her “a valued teammate who will be greatly missed.”

Her killing, in a district that draws up to 250,000 visitors daily, has renewed scrutiny of security in one of the world’s most heavily policed public spaces; and how little it could do to stop it.